The nominations for the 88th annual Academy Awards ceremony have been announced, and we're all excited about the list of nominees in each of the categories, especially the Best Original Score hopefuls. Five top film composers of arguably the best scores of 2015 movies will hope to take home the trophy at the 2016 Oscars next month, so we're streaming the original soundtracks for the nominated films below. Listen to these scores right here!

You can check out more buzzing news coverage from Music Times right here!

The Best Original Score category features some of the best orchestration, songwriting and composition efforts from top composers, so we know the decision will be hard for the Academy to make. We've provided streams of these scores for you to listen to, compare and make your own predictions as to which composer could take home the Oscar!

You can check out the full list of nominations right here!

Make sure to check out our Best Original Score category coverage as well!

Director Steven Spielberg's Bridge of Spies received a number of nominations this year, but the score by Thomas Newman definitely makes this category a tough one. This Cold War thriller is held together by the acting and direction of course, but the varied orchestration keeps the suspense intact throughout.

The dramatic love story that is Carol comes together with the themes and melodies orchestrated by composer Carter Burwell, who weaves instrumentation into the emotional motifs of the film. The film racked up a number of nominations, but we're hoping Burwell gets recognition for this soundtrack score.

Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson matches the suspense and danger of the thriller Sicario in his Oscar-nominated score. Incorporating drone-like dissonance in minor key driven orchestration, he captures the dread and drama of the movie.

Quentin Tarantino makes very bold films, and composer Ennio Morricone's score for the 2015 western The Hateful Eight compliments this vision insanely well.

There's no way that John Williams' score for the biggest movie of all time, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, wouldn't be on this list. Is this the favorite to win the Oscar? We'll have to find out next month!

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